Duplicate-whist board



(No ModeL) F. H. BUTLER. DUPLIGATE WRIST BOARD.

No. 568,600. I Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

1214912 for UNITED STATES FLORENCE H. BUTLER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DUPLICATE-WHIST BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,600, dated September 29, 1896.

' Application filed February 19, 1896. Serial No. 579,845. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLORENCE H. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati,in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and original Board for Duplicate Vhist, of which the following is a specification, and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in duplicate-whist boards; and it consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my entire whist-board or duplicate-whist pack, the same showing my invention in its folded or closed condition 7 with a full pack or deck of cards therein; and Fig. 2 is a plan View of my invention, showing it in its open condition, the several hands of cards being seen in their respective positions after playing the first round of the game or before beginning the duplicate game.

A represents a central card or board when the pack is open, as in Fig. 2, which is simply a heavy black card the exact size of the cards used in the game, but twice or more the thickness of each one. This board has on its upper face the stars and index-hand, or other customary appropriate characters or symbols, and on its under face or back a corner-figure, such as 3 and 4c or the like,

(shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 1, respectively,) and it may be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard, leather, or the like, which is well adapted to the purpose.

F, G, H, and I, respectively, represent narrow rubber bands or elastic loops projecting laterally from the respective four edges of said board A, intermediate the several ends and sides thereof, as best seenin Fig. '2, and adapted to receive and retain the several hands of cards a b o d after using, and which may be very readily inserted therein. The bands F and I, respectively, embrace the hands of cards a and c longitudinally, and the bands G and II, respectively, embrace or accommodate the hands of cards b and d transversely,

bands or loops overlapping or passing each other, so that they do not produce a double thickness by otherwise resting on each other.

K represents a short elastic strap projecting from the edge of board A alongside the loop or band G, and provided with a catch or eye J at its outer or free end, which engages a button or other suitable keeper L on the outer end of loop H when the said strap has been brought around the full pack or deck of cards, and holds it closed or folded on the board A, as seen in Fig. 1.

It will be seen by reference to the above and to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, that the severalhands of cards are folded or laid one on the other within their respective loops upon the board A into such small compass that it is but slightly greater than that of an ordinary deck of cards without any holder whatever, and thus makes a more compact duplicate-whist board than any heretofore in use, thereby enabling the close packing thereof to the desired number of packs or decks, together with the accompanying requisite chips and score-cards used in the game, within a very convenient box or carrying-receptacle, whose dimensions are thereby reduced to a minimum, and especially enables the traveler (who is prone to carry such a game with him and has but limited space therefor) to more readily pack and handle the box and its contents.

I claim-- In a duplicate-whist board, the combination of a rectangular board or backing A made the size of the cards used and having the desired characters or symbols on its face and back; a series of elastic loops or bands F, G, H, and I, projecting laterally from the respective four sides or edges of the said board A and adapted to receive and retain intact the several hands of cards into which a deck or playing-pack is divided, and also to enable said hands of cards to be folded or laid one on the other over said board or backing; and a fastening-strap K, having an eye or catch J, and which is adapted to encircle the folded packs and hold them closed by engagement of its said catch with a button or keeper L on the loop H, substantially as herein set forth.

FLORENCE H. BUTLER.

Witnesses:

ALICE BUTLER, J12, KENNY L. BUTLER. 

